“The merits of joining forces with the Law Society and CILEx; the need to help facilitate the transition to the new world, even if its flaws are readily apparent; the Bar as guardians of the Rule of Law; and a fond farewell.”

“The Court of Appeal ruling in Henry yesterday has been met with disappointment and criticism from lawyers for failing to send out a clear message about the importance of costs management, and for risking an onslaught of satellite litigation.”

“Now that the idea of a new UK Bill of Rights appears to be buried, choices re-emerge. The predicted outcome of the London-based Commission’s work was finally confirmed in December. Where now for human rights?”

“The RSPCA, Britain’s biggest animal welfare charity, has been officially asked to review its prosecution policies by the charities regulator after it spent hundreds of thousands of pounds bringing a prosecution against David Cameron’s local hunt.”

“Britain’s colonial-era decision to sever an Indian Ocean archipelago from Mauritius and turn it into a US military base will have to be justified before an international tribunal – a process that could lead to the return of the islands’ exiled inhabitants.”

“Since the early 90s US prosecuting authorities have been using deferred prosecution agreements. They are said to raise about $2.5bn a year in penalties, often in respect of criminal activities with little connection to the US. A deferred prosecution agreements involves the filing in court of agreed charges against a corporation, subject to a condition that the charges will not be pursued if the corporation complies with the often stringent terms of the agreement for a specified period. Such terms will include the payment of substantial sums to reflect broadly the fine that would have been paid had the corporation pleaded guilty and to reflect the confiscation and compensation regimes. Corporations are likely also to have to agree to the appointment of a monitor to ensure their adherence to proper standards of behaviour.”